Refrigerator system for produce stands



July 10,1951 H. Y. STEBBINS REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM FOR PRODUCE STANDS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 IN V EN TOR Harry X Stebbz'ns ATTOREYS July 10, 1951 H. Y. STEBBINS REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM FOR PRODUCE STANDS2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. Harry Y Stabbins A ZTORNEYS Patented July 10, 1951.G'eneralA'meriCaniTransportation.Corlloratiom Chicago; Ill acorporation ofNe w"Yorke ApplicationtflctoherzS, 1949;Ser'ia;l1Nzo.120,325;

This invention relates to refrigerated display racks ofthe open'topsvariety andrhas for its.;principahobject' the provision of .aa-newand-improved device of.'.-.this kind..

It-is amain obiectqof the invention.-.to provide a: refrigeratedpenatopdisplavmacle :capable of fitting in the same space. as theprior'rartnon-refrigerated racks;

nnothereohject :of the-invention. isato provide a refrigeratingiapparatussoapable? of: :being fitted into rexisting: displaywacks;

Another. 'object- {Ofeg'bhfi illI/GhfiQIlbiS "to .;providea:refrigenating:apparatus:for.rdisplayrrackszthat is: capable: 10f.--being. readilyi altered :to vary-stile dimensionsontheseveralgbinsiormedinithe rack: 7 Another objeetof thefinventioni-isto:;.provide:;a r fri er t n pp ratus: for wopen top; displ y rackswhioh can be manufactured :at -;low cost w-ithout-: sacrifieing:quality; hand which- 103,11 .be maintainedcleanand:sanitary'economically.

Further objects-30f the invention :not'zspeoificallyementioned herewill. :be apparent; :from' the detailedrdeseriptionqand .claimswhichfollomireferenceabeing had to the1accompanyingsdrawings in which-a'preferredembodiment -of the invention. ise'shown I by way ofexamplerand "in which? Fig. 1 is a plan-view:of v arrefrigeratingiapparatus .-=-instal-1ed in a:;d-isplayrack;o'f typicahproportions;

.Fig. 2 .is -i an end elevational: viewof r the arack shown in Fig. -1*with :the compressor condenser unit diagrammatically i'illustrated;

Fig. 3 --is ;a.frag-mentary crossesectiona'l' viewtakemsubsta-ntial-lyalong the line 3'- 3:of"-Eig;.;1 looking intheidirection of the arr.ows;;1and

Fig-.4is' a "fragmentary v'crossesectional view taken substantiallyalong theTlineA -A of Fig. ,1 looking? in therdireotion-of the arrows.

Opentop @display :racks of approximately counter" height are-frequentlyemployed to :display merchandise such was fruits and vegetables;oftentimes such racks are generally rectangular having-widths ofapproximately. three 156.8131 and lengths :of: ten or twelve ifeet-ormore depending uponwthe spaceavailable; *Such-box-like racks aresupported 1 upon: suitable :supports with -:the bottom ofthe=-rack-inclinedvslight1y= so: that -the rear edge of the-rack'is'several ,inches'higher than the .frontwe'dge; Therackisusuallyadivided inter-a plurality ;'ofgenerallysrectangular bins, inwhichproducts-ofvarious kinds are displayed ffor sale.:O-ftentimes:mirrorsextend upwardly from the rear edge of the rack,atr-such-an angleasto enhance the appearance of the display.- 1t-:is*tosuch amaek that the .instant-.-invention relates.

iswwel lcunderstood: by:,those,skilledrinthe ant-fruitsrandevegetableswill {remain inta-nbe'tter =and=-oonsequently saleablerconditionfor. alonger period of time ifrtheyuare. maintainedunder refrigeration. .Inthe priorsartof whichl amaware numerous z-effortsqhave. Joeentmade. .toapply .reirigeration to "uses-of this kind,=;.centairr of. theseendeavors .-resulting.,-insaqolosed:case refrigerated andmaintainedtattproper temperature with the .aid 'QfqdQOI'S or lidsthat-serve to confine the cooled airfin-olosemroximity tottheproduce..Such devices; while they-1,-may.-im prove the: keeping .gua'lityofethe-tfruits.and-vegetables, rlar elytdetea-t theirowntpunposerby,induoingtcustomenrersistance, it being-v wel-l understood.that ;in.:self.- service stores customerstare.reluctantsto openrefrigeratortdoors-and the likeztoisecure the merchandise. 7

51m other instances ine thev prion: art .of which I'am.--aware,.-the;netrigeratedsdisplay rack constitutes-ea complete new-.unitmftentimes differing in d-imensions iii-romthe vracks-Mcommonlytused and-as 1a-,result-,=the-expense ofichange-over from anonerefrigeratedrto aretrigerated rack has been so egreat-as -togreatlyr.limit :the "use. -of the im.- proved :device.

The wpresentwinventioni seeks-- to 1 provide a-.refrigerated:openetopldisplay :raok. whiohvcan -,be maderto preeisely' the same:dimensions as racks new inwuse; the refrigerating 11nit-of.-whichCracksif desiredl can the installed. in existing non re-.frj'geratefd:raokswithayminimum ofwexpense.

To this end andwi-nwaccordance with.'the teach- ,ings of: thepresentijinvention the refrigerating .unitsandsupportswtheretorxformthe-partitions by which :the-:.-rack =is divided: into a plurality-ofindependentqgenerally rectangular: open top binsor compartments. 'The'.-pi pesforming the .coils through whichthe-heatexchangeimediumtiscirculatecl mares-supported iimsupport members:-.disposedaatrightranglesto Qt-he zpi-persand' extendingfromzedgestmedgezofwthetrackr fUsua-llwthepipes will extendlongitudinallyofthe mack "and the supports fromra side :toxsidevthereof, ,-;-however; if desired; the 'melative positionsmaylief-changed.

The s'upnortsraresnot secured to -the1 pipesbut rather are capable ofsliding freely-therealong, and: thenpipeasections ."intervening:betweentadjacent supports are --;cov.,ered (planar: memberstightlyaembraoingthe: pipesand abutting-against the-supports to spacethesupportslongitudinally of the-pipe and :170. form: sidewallsfor the.compantm'ent. The: supports; .being ,rmovable', permitadiustmentcof-rthedeneth 10f: the individnal=com-- natments, ethewidthwf.whiohweompantmentds preferably more or less permanent in a particularinstallation. Spacing members such as are used to cover the pipe can beprovided in several lengths in a particular rack, thereby formingcompartments of different sizes and by interchanging these members andmalging corresponding adjustment of the supporting members smaller andlarger bins can be repositioned in the rack as desired.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, particularly Figs. 1 and2, it will be seen that the rack of the type to which the presentinvention relates consists of a bottom plate I from opposite sides ofwhich generally vertical walls 2 and 3 extend being joined at the endsof the base plate by end walls 4 and 5 respectively. The bottom plate lis preferably composed of metal or, if of wood, provided with a metalupper facing. The box-like structure so formed is supported upon asuitable base 5, the details of which form no part of the presentinvention, this support 5 supporting the base plate at an angle withrespect to the horizontal which angle approximates 15 thereby to elevatethe rear side 3 of the rack somewhat above the front 2. Frequently alongthe front edge 2 of the rack is a glass front panel 1 in which aredisplay cards giving the price and other pertinent data relative to thecontents of the bins. Extending upwardly from the rear side 3 of therack may be a mirror 8 along the upper side of which is a suitablyshaded source of light 9 by which the contents of the rack areilluminated. The rack just described will be recognized as a more orless standard fruit and vegetable display rack now commonly used inchain stores and the like.

As will be seen in Figs. 1-4 inclusive the boxlike rack is divided intogenerally rectangular pockets by the refrigerating apparatus of thepresent invention, such apparatus consisting of a plurality of pipesarranged in vertical rows l0, ll, 12 and 13, which rows are shown toextend from end to end of the rack. Cross connecting pipes I4 and I5connect the individual pipes together to form a coil through which arefrigerating medium may enter through pipe' 16 and flow through thebottom ones of the pipes in each of the rows, thence to the next pipesand so on leaving the coil through the pipe l1. As shown each of thepipe rows H], ll, 12 and I3 contains four individual pipes located oneabove the other; this arrangement being subject to variation within theteachings of the invention.

The pipes thus forming the refrigerating coil are supported by suitablesupports 20 which are preferably generally U-shaped members that extendbetween and abut against the sides 2 and 3 of the rack. These U-shapedmembers, preferably formed of metal, contain rows of perforations 2|through which the pipes project. The members 20 are disposed with theopen end of the U downwardand flanges 22 are extended outwardly and restupon the bottom or base plane I of the racl; to support the pipesthereabove.

The holes 2| are of such dimension that the supports 20 may be movedlongitudinally of the pipes without difficulty.

Fitting between adjacent supports 20 and over each row of pipestherebetween, such as for example row H, is a spacer 25 composed ofmetal and of generally U-shaped section. This spacer 25 is of suchdimension as to snugly fit over and engage the pipes in the row as shownin Fig. 3. The ends of the spacer 25 abut against adjacent onesof thesupports 20, thereby fixing those supe *2 ports longitudinally of thepipes. Spacers 25 have flange-like projections 26 located at theirbottom edges, which projections rest upon the flanges 22 of the supports20 thereby spacing the spacers slightly ofi of the bottom plate I of therack.

The number of supports will depend upon the desired dimensions of thecompartments to be formed and upon the length of the rack. In Fig. 1 afew supports 20 are shown, and it will be understood that supports willbe provided as required. As will be apparent, the distance betweenadjacent supports 20 will depend upon the length of the spacers 25 andthe dimensions of the compartments or bins in the rack will likewise beso governed. By providing at the edges 2 and 3 of the rack a spacer 21which is essentiallyjust half of the spacer 25, the pipes in run ID ofthe coil will be covered andthe compartment 30 will be bounded by smoothplanar metallic walls capable of efiiciently transmitting heat from theproduce to the refrigerating coils by conduction. Compartments! will besimilarly bounded by adjacent supports 20 and adjacent spacers 25 andcompartment 32 by the supports 20, the spacer 25 on the pipes in run l2and the side spacer ad jacent the front wall 2 of the rack.

At the ends 4 and 5 of the rack cross-connecting coils l4 and I5 arecovered by suitable plates which essentially consist of half thesupports 20.

The compressor-condenser unit employed forms no part of the presentinvention as there are a number of such units available on the openmarket. As shown the compressor 35 is driven by a suitable motor 36, anddraws refrigerant through the pipe l1 and forces it through pipe 31 intothe condenser 38 where the refrigerant is liquefied and returned to thecoil through pipe Hi, there being suitable control valves interposed inthe customary manner.

In certain instances, such as for example, to ripen fruit that isreceived too green for immediate sale, it may be advantageous to applyheat -to the display rack. For such operation pipes l 6,' l| and 31 areconnected so that the coil in the rack becomes the condenser and thecondenser 38 becomes the evaporator.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the refrigerating apparatusof the present invention' is capable of being installed in existingracks or in new racks of the same dimensions. The apparatus itself formsdividers that bound the individual. compartments by smooth planarmetallic walls through which heat may be conducted efi'iciently. Therefrigerating apparatus does not in any way interfere with the manner inwhich the merchandise is displayed both directly and through imagesreflected by the mirror. The refrigerating apparatus can be builteconomically without sacrificing quality and can be maintained in clean,sanitary condition without difficulty.

While I have chosen to show my invention by illustrating and describinga preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only asthere are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by oneskilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire'tohave protectedby Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a refrigerating coilextending back and forthfrom end to end of the rack and having aplurality of layers disposed with sections of the coil in each layeraligned vertically with corre sponding sections in the other layers;lateral partition members extendin from side to side of the rack andcontaining perforations through which said coil extends; andlongitudinal partition members engaging the vertically aligned sectionsof said coil and abutting against adjacent ones of said lateralpartition members to space the latter members longitudinally of the coiland to divide the rack into individual open top compartments arranged ina plurality of rows that extend from end to end of the rack, with eachrow containing a plurality of compartments.

2. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a rectangular bottomplate; a plurality of planar perforated generally U-shaped metallicsupports disposed on said plate in spaced apart upright position andextendin from side to side thereof; metallic pipes extending from end toend of the rack and through the perforations in said supports atsubstantially right angles there to, said supports holding the pipes inspaced apart vertical rows extending from end to end of the rack; endpipes connecting said pipes together to form a continuous coil throughwhich a heat exchange medium may be passed; and metallic separators eachengaging the pipes in a section of a row and abutted against adjacentones of said supports and forming with the supports, walls dividin therack into a plurality of individual open top compartments.

3. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; arectangular bottomplate member; a refrigerating coil disposed above said bottom member andextending back and forth from end to end thereof, said coil having aplurality of layers disposed with sections of each layer alignedvertically with corresponding sections of the other layers; a pluralityof lateral partition members extending from side to side of the rackeach containing perforations through which the coil sections extend topermit movement of the member longitudinally of the rack and coil; and aplurality of longitudinal partition members engaging the verticallyaligned sections of said coil and abutting against adjacent ones of saidlateral partition members to position the latter members longitudinallyof the coil and to divide the rack into individual open topcompartments.

4. In a display rack of the open type; a bottom plate; a plurality ofsupporting members of generally U-section disposed in parallel spacedapart relation on said plate and extending from edge to edge thereof,said members each containing a plurality of perforations arranged inspaced apart vertically disposed rows with a plurality of perforationsin each row, and with the rows and perforations therein in each memberaligned with a corresponding row and perforation in the other members; aheat exchanger coil threaded through said perforations and extendingfrom edge to edge of the plate and forming a plurality of spaced apartvertically aligned coil sections; and a separator of generally U-shapedsection fitted over each coil section and abutting adjacent ones of saidsupporting members to form with said supporting members a plurality ofindividual open top compartments in said rack.

5. A refrigerating unit adapted for use in an existing display rackhaving a bottom plate and side walls extending upwardly therefrom aroundthe periphery thereof comprising: generally U- shaped supports disposedin parallel relation upon said plate and extending between opposite onesof said side walls, said supports being perforated; a heat exchange coilextending through the perforations in said supports and supportedthereby in a plurality of parallel vertically disposed sections eachextending between the other opposite ones of said side walls with asection along the inner face of each of the first said opposite sidewalls; metallic cover plates for said coil sections abutted againstadjacent ones of said supports and extending therebetween; and metallicend cover plates disposed alongside the inside faces of said otheropposite ones of said side walls, said supports, cover plates, and endcover plates dividing said rack into a plurality of independent open topbins, each of which is bounded by walls through which heat may pass byconduction.

6. In a refrigerated display rack of the open type; a rectangular bottomplate member; a refrigerating coil disposed above said bottom member andhaving a plurality of spaced apart sections extending from end to end ofsaid member, each section containing a plurality of pipes disposed invertical alignment; a plurality of la eral partition members each havinga plurality of perforations arranged in spaced apart vertical rowsthrough which perforations said coil projects; feet on said lateralmembers engaging said plate member to support the partition memberthereon thereby to support the coil above said bottom member, saidpartition members being movable on said bottom plate longitudinally ofsaid rack and pipes; and a plurality of generally U-shaped members eachengaging both sides of the vertically disposed pipes in a coil sectionand abutting against adjacent ones of said lateral partition members tofix those members longitudinally of the rack and pipes and with thelateral members to divide the rack into a plurality of individual opentop compartments.

HARRY Y. STEBBINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,428,243 Raskin Sept, 30, 19472,500,679 I-Iawley Mar. 14, 1950

